Month: March 2026

A Somali fraudster who ripped off millions meant for hungry children during the COVID nightmare has been handed a pathetic slap on the wrist, just ONE YEAR in prison.

Abdul Abubakar Ali, 40, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in 2018, to one year and one day for his role in the monstrous Feeding Our Future scandal.

Ali’s attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Matthew Murphy also asked for a shorter prison sentence for having a ‘remarkable life.’

Using a sham nonprofit called Youth Inventors Lab as his personal ATM, Ali and his co-conspirators falsely claimed to have served over 1.3 million meals that were never actually provided, pocketing more than $3 million in federal child nutrition funds. Ali personally walked away with at least $129,000 of the stolen cash.

Federal sentencing guidelines called for 30 to 37 months behind bars. But thanks to Ali’s early guilty plea, “cooperation,” and a tearful courtroom apology, the judge let him off with a virtual vacation.

The one-year-and-one-day sentence is a classic loophole that virtually guarantees this fraudster could be transferred to a halfway house or released even sooner for “good behavior.” He doesn’t even have to report until June 2.

KARE11 reported:

A defendant accused of orchestrating $3 million in fraud as part of the broader Feeding Our Future scheme apologized to the court during his sentencing Monday, minutes before a federal judge ordered him to serve one year in prison for his role in the scandal.

“Your honor, I just want to say I’m sorry to everyone that my actions have hurt,” Abdul Abubakar Ali told the judge. “This was a mistake. I will try to correct it for the rest of my life. It’s not something that’s in the past. I’ve let down a lot of people. I promise I will attempt to fix it for the rest of my life. So, I’m sorry.”

Ali initially pleaded guilty in October 2022 after admitting that he used a shell company, known as Youth Inventors Lab, to defraud the federal pandemic meals program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Court documents show that Ali and his co-conspirators submitted fake invoices and claimed to have served more than one million meals despite serving none, helping him to personally pocket more than $100,000.

Judge Nancy Brasel officially gave Ali a prison sentence of one year and one day, a legal technicality that allows Ali the opportunity to transition to a halfway house if he shows good behavior. The judge, Ali’s defense attorney Kevin Gregorius and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Murphy all agreed that Ali had shown genuine remorse and noted that he had been among the first defendants to plead guilty in 2022. Murphy, who was not involved in the early prosecutions of Feeding Our Future, said that Ali’s cooperation more than three years ago led to other guilty pleas and helped the government build a case in the larger fraud scandal.

[…]

Assistant U.S. Attorney Murphy said in court that Ali “operated an egregiously fraudulent food site” but also requested a shorter prison sentence because of his early cooperation. Ali has also paid more than $90,000 in restitution to the court so far.

“I would say that Mr. Ali’s conduct is an aberration from an otherwise law-abiding life. His life is rather remarkable… he attended Mankato State with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, a master’s in electrical engineering from Purdue, he worked as an engineer for a period of time before returning to Minnesota and making, unfortunately, a very, very poor decision, entering into the space of social welfare programs,” Murphy told the judge. “Mr. Ali did immediately accept responsibility, within weeks of being indicted, accepted responsibility and wholly admitted his guilt and provided very valuable and useful information to the government at a very early stage.”

This outcome is outrageous.

X user RealRobert said it best:

“Matthew Perna (seen in a red sweatshirt) on January 6, walking peacefully inside the Capitol building for only 14 minutes to protest the overthrow of his government on November 3—after being invited in by Capitol Police, no less.

Matthew pleaded guilty to the initial charges, believing he would face 6–12 months in prison.

Only after pleading guilty did the domestic terrorists within the Department of Justice inform Matthew that they would seek a TERRORISM enhancement to his sentence, increasing his potential sentence to 9 years in federal prison.

Just four days after receiving this news, Matthew went into his garage, put a fucking rope around his neck, and hung himself.

In other words, they deliberately went after Americans and brought down the full weight of the U.S. government, including a death sentence, to prove a point—that November 3 was the ‘most secure election in U.S. history’.

Now you’ve got a judicial whore in a black robe who just slapped G’ddamn Ilhan Omar—Abdul Abubakar Ali—with a mere one-year sentence for MILLIONS in stolen tax dollars, after he lied about providing 1.3 million meals. And he’ll be out in just a couple of months for being a good felon.

So, the question is, where the fuck is the United States Justice System?

Damn you, the state media—every single one of you.”

This is:

Matthew Perna (seen in a red sweatshirt) on January 6, walking peacefully inside the Capitol building for only 14 minutes to protest the overthrow of his government on November 3—after being invited in by Capitol Police, no less.

Matthew pleaded guilty to the initial… pic.twitter.com/GyYo73HvYp

— RealRobert (@Real_RobN) March 31, 2026

The post SLAP ON THE WRIST: Somali Fraudster Who Stole Millions from Hungry Children Sentenced to Just ONE YEAR — Could Be Out Early in Halfway House Thanks to Weak Sentencing appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Today on Stinchfield, NBA rising star Jaden Ivey is suddenly out after speaking out against what he says is a forced LGBTQ agenda inside the NBA. The Chicago Bulls cut him loose, the media calls him unstable, and the left says he is spiraling. But on the right, many see something very different.

A young man standing firm in his faith, unapologetically professing his love of Jesus, and refusing to bow.

So when did faith become a disqualifier in America? And why is speaking your beliefs now treated like a mental health crisis?

At the same time, the dysfunction in Washington hits a new level. Congress is on vacation while the Department of Homeland Security remains unfunded.

Let that sink in. Our national security agency hangs in the balance while lawmakers disappear. The United States Senate, in particular, should be ashamed.

I say bring them back. Do your job. Fund the government. Protect the country.

This is about priorities. And right now, the American people are not at the top of the list.

The post He Loves Jesus, So They Called Him Crazy And Cut Him (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending federal funding for NPR and PBS.

US District Judge Randolph Moss, an Obama appointee lashed out at President Trump and said he targeted PBS and NPR for their viewpoints.

Last year, President Trump ended taxpayer subsidization of ‘biased media.

“National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) receive taxpayer funds through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Unlike in 1967, when the CPB was established, today the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options. Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence,” the Trump White House previously announced.

“At the very least, Americans have the right to expect that if their tax dollars fund public broadcasting at all, they fund only fair, accurate, unbiased, and nonpartisan news coverage. No media outlet has a constitutional right to taxpayer subsidies, and the Government is entitled to determine which categories of activities to subsidize,” the White House said.

“The CPB fails to abide by these principles to the extent it subsidizes NPR and PBS. Which viewpoints NPR and PBS promote does not matter. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens,” the White House said.

“I therefore instruct the CPB Board of Directors (CPB Board) and all executive departments and agencies (agencies) to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS,” Trump said.

On Tuesday, Judge Randolph Moss blocked President Trump’s executive order ending taxpayer subsidization to PBS and NPR.

“It is difficult to conceive of clearer evidence that a government action is targeted at viewpoints that the President does not like and seeks to squelch,” Judge Moss wrote.

AP reported:

Citing the First Amendment, a federal judge on Tuesday agreed to permanently block the Trump administration from implementing a presidential directive to end federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, two media entities that the White House has said are counterproductive to American priorities.

The operational impact of U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss’ decision was not immediately clear — both because it will likely be appealed and because too much damage to the public-broadcasting system has already been done, both by the president and Congress.

Moss ruled that President Donald Trump’s executive order to cease funding for NPR and PBS is unlawful and unenforceable. The judge said the First Amendment right to free speech “does not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation of this type.”

The post Obama Judge Blocks Trump’s Executive Order Aimed at Ending Federal Funding For NPR, PBS appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

According to a report from the Daily Mail, Bryon Noem, husband of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, is at the center of a deeply troubling scandal involving alleged secret online activity, financial transactions with adult entertainers, and behavior that national security experts say could have opened the door to blackmail.

The report claims Bryon Noem engaged in online interactions with individuals in niche adult communities, including exchanging messages, sending money, and sharing photos of himself in revealing attire.

The Daily Mail claims it reviewed hundreds of messages exchanged between Bryon Noem and multiple individuals over a period of more than a year overlapping with the time his wife was leading the Department of Homeland Security.

These communications allegedly included:

• Explicit conversations with online performers
• Financial transactions totaling at least $25,000 through platforms like PayPal and Cash App
• Photos of himself in provocative attire
• Admissions about his personal life and marriage

Daily Mail reported:

The vast trove of saucy texts, WhatsApp messages and images obtained by the Daily Mail reveals that clean-cut Bryon has his own share of secrets.

His fetish was ‘3000cc-plus boobs,’ according to one of the models who communicated extensively with Bryon and agreed to describe their conversations to the Daily Mail.

That’s a reference to custom-made XXL implants that can hold more than 3000 cubic centimeters of saline per breast – far greater than surgeons typically recommend.

‘It’s called bimbofication. People who modify their body to look like a doll. The Barbie look,’ she explained.

‘His kink is for huge, huge ridiculous boobs.’

Bryon got in contact with a model using the pseudonym ‘Jason Jackson,’ complimenting her ‘amazing’ curves and vowing to worship her like a ‘goddess,’ according to messages seen by the Daily Mail.

In texts and audio calls, the pair shared everything from mundane daily chit-chat to spicy banter about her augmented chest.

[…]

The model sent him an array of topless selfies and lingerie shots.

‘Jason’ apparently felt relaxed enough to reciprocate with photos of himself wearing skimpy outfits and lopsided DIY breasts.

‘You turn me into a girl,’ he said. ‘Should I put on leggings?’

Read more here.

Multiple intelligence experts cited in the report warned that such behavior could present a textbook vulnerability for blackmail by foreign adversaries.

Wow. This is disturbing. Kristi Noem’s husband has been caught by @DailyMail sending pics where he crossdresses with giant fake breasts.

They also say he’s been paying fetish accounts to trade pornographic “busty bimbo” content.

Can insane people stay out of politics please?… pic.twitter.com/vV12oksGME

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) March 31, 2026

At the time of the alleged activity, Kristi Noem was overseeing DHS operations, including immigration enforcement, counterterrorism coordination, and critical infrastructure protection.

Experts warn that any undisclosed personal vulnerabilities can be exploited by foreign adversaries.

And according to the report, Bryon Noem’s alleged conduct may have created exactly that kind of leverage.

When confronted, Bryon Noem reportedly did not deny engaging in explicit conversations or sharing photos, but pushed back on claims that his actions posed a national security threat.

“Ms. Noem is devastated. The family was blindsided by this, and they ask for privacy and prayers at the time,” Noem’s representatives told The New York Post.

The post Daily Mail Exposes Kristi Noem’s Husband in Shocking ‘Cross-Dressing’ Photo Scandal and Explicit Messages — Noem Responds appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Golf legend Tiger Woods faces serious legal trouble after a high-speed rollover crash in Florida resulted in his arrest on DUI charges. The 50-year-old athlete refused to provide a urine sample to authorities despite testing negative for alcohol, leading to multiple misdemeanor charges including DUI with property damage.

Crash Details and Arrest

Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek reported that Woods was traveling at a high rate of speed when his vehicle collided with another car, causing his SUV to roll onto its driver’s side. Woods crawled out through the passenger door after the crash. Authorities observed signs of impairment, though breathalyzer tests showed zero alcohol in his system. When officers requested a urine test, Woods refused, triggering automatic DUI charges under Florida law. His mugshot revealed bloodshot eyes, and he was later released from Martin County Jail late Friday wearing the same blue polo shirt visible during the crash.

https://x.com/KVanValkenburg/status/2038616993788530774

Family Concerns Mount

Woods shares two children with ex-wife Elin Nordegren: 18-year-old daughter Sam and 17-year-old son Charlie, who recently committed to play golf at Florida State University. A source told People magazine that Nordegren expressed deep concern following the arrest. The source explained that because the children maintain a close relationship with their father, Nordegren naturally worries about his wellbeing. This marks another troubling incident for Woods, who has been working to rebuild his relationship with his family since their highly publicized 2009 divorce following his infamous sex scandal.

Pattern of Incidents

This arrest represents Woods’ second DUI charge in Florida. In 2017, he admitted to taking a dangerous combination of painkillers that led to his first DUI arrest. The golf champion also suffered severe leg injuries in a 2021 rollover crash that required emergency surgery. Woods had just returned to competitive play in The Golf League following multiple back surgeries and repair of a torn Achilles tendon. His teammate Kevin Kisner expressed concern about the arrest, noting that Woods had been dedicating himself to practice and signed up for the U.S. Senior Open just one day before the crash.

What Happens Next

Woods now faces three misdemeanor charges: DUI, property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test. No injuries were reported in the incident, and Woods was alone in the vehicle. The arrest comes at a particularly difficult time as Woods attempts his latest comeback following years of physical setbacks. He currently dates Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Woods and Nordegren were recently photographed together celebrating their son Charlie’s high school golf championship, demonstrating their continued co-parenting relationship despite the divorce. The golf community awaits news on how these charges will impact Woods’ planned return to competitive play.

A bombshell report from the Civil Liberties Union for Europe has unintentionally exposed what many right-wing populist, conservative, and anti-globalist voices have long warned: Romania’s democratic system is being reshaped by unelected institutions enforcing ideological conformity.

The Liberties Rule of Law Report 2026 places Romania under a harsh spotlight, centering its criticism on the annulment of the 2024 presidential election and the exclusion of anti-establishment candidates.

At the heart of the report is a striking conclusion. The Constitutional Court of Romania is accused of having “effectively changed the law,” a move described as abusive and a direct threat to legal certainty.
This is not a minor technical violation. It is, as even the report suggests, a fundamental rupture in the democratic process—one that rewrote the rules of political competition after the fact.

The decision in question erased the results of a national election and barred Călin Georgescu and Diana Șoșoacă from running. Both candidates had built support by openly challenging the authority of the European Union and NATO.

According to the court, such criticism amounted to a rejection of constitutional values. But the report makes clear that no Romanian law requires loyalty to Euro-Atlantic institutions as a condition for candidacy.

In effect, the court introduced a new, unwritten rule: ideological compliance. Criticism of globalist structures became grounds for exclusion from democratic participation. For supporters of Georgescu and more broadly Romanian conservatives, this confirmed what they had long suspected. When a nationalist candidate threatens the system, the system intervenes.

The Liberties report, though framed as a defense of rule of law, reads as an indictment of institutional overreach. By stepping beyond interpretation and into lawmaking, the court fundamentally altered the electoral landscape.

Equally troubling are the procedural details outlined in the report. The excluded candidates were denied basic rights—no legal defense, no representation, and no right of appeal.
This was not due process in any meaningful sense. It was a closed, final decision imposed by a body increasingly viewed as politically aligned.

The report goes even further, suggesting that the court itself may be beyond repair. It raises the possibility of abolishing the Constitutional Court and transferring its powers to the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

Such a proposal is extraordinary. It reflects a recognition that the problem is not isolated, but structural.

Romania is also labeled a “stagnator” in the report, grouped with countries where democratic standards have failed to improve. But for many Romanians, this label understates the reality. The issue is not ‘stagnation,’ as the report contends. What it really is about is control—near total control. Institutions meant to safeguard democracy are increasingly used by liberal-globalist actors to shape political outcomes.

The report also highlights the broader environment in which this occurred. Media freedom remains compromised, with public broadcasters subject to political influence and private outlets dependent on opaque funding streams.

Journalists face harassment and intimidation, while access to public information continues to deteriorate. The landscape described is one of pressure, not openness. Particular attention is given to the role of the National Audiovisual Council, which during the election cycle ordered the removal of online content critical of authorities.

These actions were justified under the banner of combating “disinformation.” Yet the report warns that the absence of clear legal definitions creates a serious risk of censorship. Citizens themselves have reportedly been targeted. Cases of police contacting individuals and pressuring them to delete critical posts suggest a system increasingly willing to police speech.

Plans to establish a new anti-disinformation unit within the presidential administration raise further concerns. Without safeguards, such an initiative risks consolidating power over public discourse. The deeper issue, as the report implicitly reveals, is the narrowing of acceptable opinion. Debate over Romania’s place in the EU or NATO is treated not as legitimate discourse, but as a threat.

For Georgescu’s supporters, who number nearly half of Romania’s 19 million people, this is the clearest evidence yet of a managed political system. Candidates who challenge globalist orthodoxy are excluded, then criminally prosecuted, while entrenched, corrupt institutions enforce ideological boundaries.

The annulment of the election has become a defining symbol of this shift. It represents the collision between national sovereignty and supranational influence. Public reaction, fortunately, has not been silent. Protests and civic mobilization indicate that many Romanians reject the direction in which their country is heading.

Yet the report also notes that this resistance is taking place in an increasingly hostile environment. Journalists, activists, and citizens face growing pressure. At the European level, the findings raise uncomfortable questions. If such actions can occur within an EU member state, what does that say about the bloc’s commitment to democratic principles?

The Liberties report, intended as a diagnostic tool, has instead become evidence in a broader political argument. It highlights the gap between formal democratic structures and their practical operation. For conservative voices, the lesson is unmistakable, namely that sovereignty must certainly not survive if key decisions are shaped by institutions entirely detached from—and increasingly explicitly hostile to—the will of the people.

Romania stands at a critical crossroads. It can continue down a path that increasingly resembles the dark days of communism—marked by draconian institutional control and rigid ideological enforcement—or it can choose to restore genuine democratic competition and national sovereignty.

The events of 2024 cannot and will not be easily forgotten. They have exposed deep fractures within the political system and shaken public trust. More importantly, they have galvanized a movement that refuses to accept that democracy must operate within boundaries set by entrenched and wholly self-serving globalist institutions.

As the debate intensifies, one deceptively simple yet profoundly powerful question looms above all others: Who decides the future of Romania— the Romanian people, or the entrenched system that claims to govern in their name?

The post Bombshell Report: EU Watchdog Exposes Romania’s Judicial Coup Against the People, Says Top Court Rewrote Rules to Stop Georgescu appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

A shady lodge running killer squads is the stuff of fiction, only in real life.

A murder trial kicked off yesterday in Paris, which is generating a lot of controversy in the press and in French society in general.

No less than twenty-two people are facing charges of murder and other serious crimes, and it’s all centered on members of a shady Masonic lodge accused of ‘running hit squads’.

Out of the defendants, thirteen face life imprisonment if convicted.

Twenty-two people stand trial in France in a case centered on a Masonic lodge accused of running hit squads.
​
They are accused of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and criminal conspiracy on behalf of a mafia network inside the Athanor Masonic Lodge in the Paris… pic.twitter.com/sq8KJ4WT2P

— Europa.com (@europa) March 30, 2026

AFP reported:

“Those in the dock include four military personnel from France’s foreign intelligence service (DGSE), two police officers, a retired domestic intelligence officer, a security guard and two business executives.

They are accused of the murder of a racing driver, the attempted murders of a business coach and a trade unionist, aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy — all on behalf of a mafia network inside the former Athanor Masonic Lodge in the Paris suburb of Puteaux.”

 Most of the defendants have no previous criminal records.

RFI reported:

“At the heart of the case is the Athanor Masonic Lodge in the Paris suburb of Puteaux. Prosecutors allege that the lodge served as a hub for a tightly organized network that carried out violent acts ranging from assaults to contract killings.

[…] The alleged ringleaders – Jean-Luc Bagur, Frederic Vaglio and Daniel Beaulieu – are all linked to the Athanor lodge and are accused of orchestrating a series of crimes through a structured chain of command. They, along with Beaulieu’s associate Sébastien Leroy, face the most severe penalties.

[…] The case first came to light following a failed contract killing in July 2020. Two members of France’s parachute regiment were arrested near the home of business coach Marie-Helene Dini while in possession of weapons.

Under questioning, the pair claimed they believed they had been tasked by the state to eliminate Dini, alleging she had ties to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.”

The complex trial is expected to last up to three months.

Read more:

Exorcist Priest Warns Against Using Ouija Boards: ‘Demons Lie and Impersonate Dead People’

The post Twenty-Two People Tied to a Controversial French Masonic Lodge on Trial for Murder appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

A 41-year-old Wisconsin mother, Tyiece Oninski, is facing a first-degree intentional homicide charge after she stabbed her 14-year-old daughter, Kuren Rein, to death on March 19, while on drugs.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Rock County Circuit Court, Oninski told investigators she killed her daughter “to protect her from Elon Musk.”

The incident occurred inside a home in the Town of Turtle.

The day after the murder, Oninski called the non-emergency line of the Rock County Communications Center and confessed to the murder.

During the call, Oninski stated she had used a knife to kill her daughter the previous night. She also admitted to attempting suicide with the same knife afterward but said she did not die.

She said she laid down next to her daughter’s lifeless body.

First responders arrived at the home and found the 14-year-old girl dead from multiple stab wounds.

Beloit Daily News reports:

The call lasted long enough that sheriff’s deputies had arrived by the time she hung up. Law enforcement officials found Oninski with self-inflicted stab wounds to her neck, lacerations on both of her wrists and a stab wound to her temple, according to the complaint. After speaking to law enforcement officials, Oninski was taken to Beloit Memorial Hospital and then transferred to a hospital in Madison for further treatment.

Police found Rein face down in the back part of the house with deep lacerations on her neck and cuts to both of her wrists. The Rock County Medical Examiner did not find any defensive wounds.

A knife and its sheath were recovered nearby.

The mother was taken into custody and transported to a hospital.

While hospitalized, she allegedly asked a deputy “if her name was in the news yet” and was disappointed when told it was not, according to the complaint.

A blood test showed Oninski tested positive for benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and THC.

61-Year-Old Woman Executed in Wisconsin by Gender-Confused Deranged Ex-Coworker Who Targeted Her for Being a Trump Supporter, Legacy Media REFUSING to Cover This Politically Motivated Murder (UPDATED)

Kuren Rein was a freshman at Beloit Memorial High School. Family members described her as “very sweet, very kind… always bubbly” and said she “seemed to always have a smile on her face.”

“Very sweet, very kind. Always bubbly. Seem to always have a smile on her face. Happy in just about every situation,” Rein’s uncle, Travis Oninski, told Channel 3000.

The uncle had spoken to her a few days before she was murdered, and she told him about her straight As.

He said, “I was proud of Kuren for doing such a good job, for being able to stay focused and, how much I missed And loved her. And she was able to tell me that back then. I know that was the last time I ever got the chance to speak with them.”

Oninski has been formally charged with first-degree intentional homicide. She was given a $1 million cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 14, according to court records.

The post Wisconsin Woman Charged with First-Degree Homicide After Stabbing 14-Year-Old Daughter to Death to ‘Protect Her from Elon Musk’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.



Woke NBA Hall of Fame star Charles Barkley sparked intense backlash over the weekend when he used CBS’s March Madness broadcast before UConn’s Elite Eight game against Duke to denounce the way the United States is treating what he called immigrants while failing to distinguish between legal, and illegal immigrants.

“I want to be very careful with my words right now because this is a touchy subject for me,” Barkley said on air as he reacted to a feature on UConn forward Alex Karaban, whose parents immigrated from Belarus and Ukraine.

“I love that kid and his family, but the way some of these other immigrants are getting treated in our country right now is a travesty and a disgrace,” he continued, drawing a distinction between “amazing immigrants and criminal immigrants” and calling recent policies “really unfortunate” and “really sad.”

Barkley went on to say that immigrants “built this country” and insisted that their stories “need to be told,” arguing they should be “admired and respected,” comments that came as the Trump administration intensifies immigration raids and deportation operations in major U.S. cities targeting illegal aliens.

Clips of the segment quickly went viral as sports and politics accounts including Awful Announcing, The Recount and others shared the video across X, TikTok and Facebook.

A wave of backlash hit social media, as critics complained that he was politicizing a college basketball broadcast, asking why immigration was being discussed “on a college show” and telling him to stick to basketball.

An Instagram reel attacking the segment repeated Barkley’s description of immigrant treatment as a “travesty and a disgrace” and concluded that he “should shut up,” capturing anger from viewers who opposed his critique of current U.S. policy.

Conservative commentators resurfaced Barkley’s earlier remarks about migrants “beating up cops” and his complaints that “the border is a joke,” using those past comments to accuse him of flip‑flopping on immigration and to tell him to “pick a side.”

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For decades, leftists, including participants in the Nuestra América Convoy, have blamed Cuba’s poverty on the United States rather than on the communist dictatorship that has denied basic rights, including multiparty elections, since seizing power in 1959.

They attribute Cuba’s crisis entirely to the U.S. oil blockade, ignoring decades of government mismanagement and centrally planned economic failure that preceded it. The embargo is real and has economic impact, and the UN General Assembly again voted in 2025 to condemn it, but it does not account for Cuba’s broader productive failure, which long predates the 2026 oil blockade.

Cuba’s economy ministry confirmed that GDP contracted 1.1% in 2024, and over the last five years, GDP has declined by roughly 11% in total. Twenty-twenty-four marked two consecutive years of negative growth and contractions in four of the last six years. Primary sectors, including agriculture, livestock, and mining, have been the most affected over the five-year period, falling 53%. Secondary activities, including the sugar industry and manufacturing, declined by 23%.

The country trades with the European Union, China, and other nations, meaning it is not under a total blockade. The real issue is that Cuba does not produce or sell enough goods and services to sustain itself without the economic support it previously received from the USSR.

Leftists are correct that U.S. secondary sanctions restrict Cuba’s access to dollar-denominated trade and international financial institutions. Cuba was added to the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list in 2021, further limiting its access to World Bank and IMF lending.

A functioning economy should not need to rely on foreign borrowing to sustain itself. Cuba produces approximately 40,000 barrels of oil per day against a daily requirement of roughly 100,000, leaving a structural deficit of about 60,000 barrels.

That gap has historically been filled by subsidized oil from Venezuela, Russia, and Iran. Venezuela alone supplied a significant share of Cuba’s needs, often on preferential or barter terms exchanged for Cuban doctors and services rather than at market prices.

Following the U.S. intervention in Venezuela in 2026, that supply was cut off. Cuban officials have acknowledged that domestic companies may not be able to afford oil purchases on the spot market even if suppliers are available.

Even absent the U.S. embargo, Cuba’s productive base does not generate sufficient income to purchase oil at world market prices. The country remains structurally dependent on external support.

At the same time, Cuba had been receiving substantial financial aid from its allies for decades. China, Russia, and Venezuela all provided economic support. This demonstrates that Cuba had access to massive external resources and still failed to build a productive economy.

Secondary sanctions create real friction in Cuba’s access to international finance. However, they do not explain why decades of Soviet subsidies, followed by Venezuelan support, failed to produce durable economic capacity.

American leftists defend socialism while living in the richest country on earth. However, those living under communism do not share this fondness for the alleged workers’ paradise.

Thousands of Cubans have died at sea over decades attempting to reach the United States, while there is no comparable pattern of Americans attempting to reach Cuba.

Even China, the richest communist country, which boasts an average annual income of about $13,000, is unable to retain all of its citizens. Approximately 37,000 Chinese nationals crossed the U.S. border illegally in 2023, with a further 50,000 to 55,000 encounters in fiscal year 2024. By contrast, there is no recorded flow of Americans seeking asylum in China.

More than 34,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea, while movement in the opposite direction is effectively zero. Millions of East Germans fled to West Germany before the Berlin Wall was built. An estimated 140 or more people were killed attempting to flee to the West, while no West Germans attempted to break into East Germany.

No country that transitioned away from a centrally planned communist economy has returned to one. Russia and Belarus retain heavy state involvement in key sectors but continue to operate market economies. Eastern European countries, Mongolia, and the former Soviet republics have all moved toward markets, and none has reversed course.

China and Vietnam, the two communist countries with the highest standards of living, achieved those gains only by transforming from pure communism to market socialism. Both countries allow private property and entrepreneurship, and both manufacture and export goods.

Cuba remains one of the purest communist systems and thus a clear example of how the model fails.

The post Cuba’s Crisis Is the Product of Communism, Not the U.S. Blockade appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.